12 Pandemic Recommendations for Heart Patients

Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı gave information about what cardiovascular patients should pay attention to in order to protect their health during the Covid-19 pandemic process.

Coronavirus is defined as a pandemic that has affected the whole world after epidemics such as typhus, smallpox, plague and Spanish flu and has not yet been found. The Covid-19 virus is mutating every day, like all other viruses. The mutated virus, which spreads rapidly and increases the severity of the disease, also threatens heart patients. During this period, making the necessary lifestyle changes and not interrupting regular controls are important for heart health. Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Memorial Service Hospital Prof. Dr. Harun Arbatlı gave information about what cardiovascular patients should pay attention to in order to protect their health during the Covid-19 pandemic process.

1. Protect yourself against Covid-19: All sick or healthy people should first prevent transmission of the virus. Transmitted by respiratory droplet infection, Covid-19 can remain alive on surfaces for a long time. For this reason, it is important to minimize the possibility of exposure to the virus by following the mask, distance and hygiene rules.
2. Non-emergency heart surgeries can be postponed under doctor's control: During the pandemic period, cardiac surgery operations are not performed except in emergencies. As in many developed countries, this method has been chosen in our country so that a significant part of the resources in hospitals can be directed to Covid-19 patients and patients who require non-emergency surgery are not exposed to a possible infection.
3. Patients requiring emergency surgery are treated in an isolated and separate ward: Cardiovascular patients requiring urgent surgery are treated in separate services, separate intensive care and operating rooms in isolated conditions and treated with less invasive, "hybrid" methods. For example, in cases requiring urgent surgery such as coronary bypass operation with small incision + coronary stent procedures, aortic dissection, and surgical + stent-graft placement, hybrid methods that allow the intervention to be performed in smaller sizes have been the methods used more frequently to keep the intensive care and hospital stays of the patients short. .
4. Patients who do not require urgent surgery are monitored by video phone: Cardiac patients who do not require emergency surgery are followed-up and treatments are organized using opportunities such as video phone calls at weekly or 15-day intervals. In this process, surgery zamcan be planned for a later date.
5. Get the Covid vaccine: Misinformation and directions on the internet or social media have led some patients to hesitate about vaccination. However, all epidemics in history have been able to end with either herd immunity or vaccination. The Spanish flu is the closest example of this. In this process, the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines has been proven.
6. Check your daily calorie intake: During the pandemic, curfew restrictions both increase daily calorie intake and reduce the consumption of calories taken. During this period, proper nutrition planning should be made.
7. Exercise at home: Exercise should be done in a home environment in order to consume daily calories and move all muscular and vascular systems. Exercises that can be done sitting in front of the television protect the person from cardiovascular disease and prevent weight gain.
8. Use your medication regularly: As in all diseases, the continuity of medications is very important in cardiovascular diseases. It is important to create a list to ensure these are not disrupted and must be supplied before the medication runs out.
9. Check your blood pressure and heart rate daily: Daily blood pressure and pulse monitoring is very important in terms of helping the physician following the patient. These results can be shared with the physician in the form of a list.
10. Go to the hospital if you experience palpitations and shortness of breath: If the person feels an unusual symptom such as palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath, they should go to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance immediately.
11. If you think you have Covid-19, get tested: If the person thinks that you may have been exposed to coronavirus and got sick, they should definitely apply to a hospital and make the necessary examinations.
12. If you have covide, have your treatment under the control of a doctor: The diagnosis of Covid-19 is finalized and people kept in a home environment should definitely use the medications given by their physician. Antiviral drugs will make it easier to fight the virus. Blood thinners, on the other hand, will prevent the tendency for excessive clotting in the blood that the virus may create. Pulmonary involvement is one of the most dangerous conditions. Devices that can measure the oxygenation level of blood from the fingertip are useful during follow-up. In the meantime, if the person feels respiratory distress, they should definitely seek help from the necessary units.